Truss



"(N0 Model.)

J. A HOPKINS.

muss. 7

No. 504,837. Patented Sept. 12, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. HOPKINS, OF MILTON, DELAWARE.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,837, dated September 12, 1893. Application filed February 18, 1893- Serial No. 462,873. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEI A. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county of Sussex and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Truss, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trusses; and it has for its object to provide certain improvements in trusses which shall render the same more efficient, and more easily adapted to right and left hernia.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved truss, which, while easy and comfortable to the wearer, at the same time is capable of ready reversal so as to be adjusted to right and left hernia.

With these and many other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the truss constructed in accordance with this invention as adapted for right hand hernia. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the truss adapted for left hand hernia. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the pad separated from the body band.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a reversible spring metal body band having at one end thereof the threaded perforations B, to receive the attaching set screws C, also adapted to work into the threaded perforations D, near the upper edge of the fiat janus-faced pad E. The flat janus-faced pad E, is provided with opposite duplicate flat faces F, which are designed to contact with the portion of the body at which the hernia is located, so as to retain such hernia in position without the use of the rounded or pearshaped pads ordinarily employed, and which tend to dilate the rupture and retard cure or relief. The said flat reversible pad E, is constructed in an approximately triangular shape having the sharply inclined or angle edge or side G, which, when the pad is attached to the body band, is disposed at the same angle as the groin, so as to register with the body at that point and avoid any discomfort to the wearer. Although of approximately triangular shape, so as to secure a perfect fit of the pad to the body at the groin, the same is extended into a rounded lobe H, which points Well downward over thelower extremity of the pubic bone, while directly above such lobe, the pad is provided with a curved outer edge I, which follows the curvature of and fits close around the pubic bone, so as to cover every possible avenue of escape for the hernia.

Adjacent to the threaded perforations D, near the upper edge of the pad E, is arranged the stud opening J, adapted to removably receive the threaded attaching stud K, adapted to be inserted in said opening from either side of the pad according to whether the same is used for right or left hernia. The stud is adapted to removably receive the eyes or openings of the attaching strap L, one end of which is fixedly attached to the free end of the spring body band A.

ThepadE,isprOVided with ventilating openings or perforations M, arranged throughout every portion thereof so as to make the truss cool and pleasant to wear, while in order to increase the comfort of wearing the pad the same is provided with rounded edges N. Assuming the pad to be attached to the body band as shown in Fig. 1 for right hand hernia, in order to adapt the same forleft hand hernia, it is only necessary to remove the screws 0, reverse the pad and the body band, and insert the screws into the perforations D from the opposite sides of the pad, as can be clearly seen in Fig. 2. The attaching stud is also reversed to the opposite side of the pad. It will be observed that the specific shape of the pad fits either side of the body, so that the same is well adapted for right and left hand hernia as may be required.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein-described truss will be apparent without further description.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a truss, the combination with a reversible spring metal body band having threaded perforations at one end, a flat janus-faced trithereof, to attach the body band to either face angular pad having threaded perforations of the pad, substantially as set forth.

near its upper edge, a sharply inclined side In testimony that I claim the foregoing as edge, a rounded lobe H, at one extremity, a my own I have hereto afiixed my signature in r 5 5 curved outer edge 1, above the rounded lobe, the presence of Witnesses.

and ventilating openings or perforations ar- 7 ranged throughout everyportion thereof, and JAMES HOPLINS' set screws adapted to pass through the thread- *Witn esses: ed perforations at one end of the body band B. R. OONWELL,

lo and to engage the threaded perforations near WVILLIAM G. FEARING,

the upper edge of the pad from either side LEWIS B. CHANDLER. 

